Freight-handling apparatus.



H. SAWYER.

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912. 1 079 519 Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETS SHBE I AF .T J A W "M W wi/tmeooea A/ iwwawbo c 3; M y WAW E MA COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D4 c4 H. SAWYER.

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE24,1912.

1,079,5 1 Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wane-was Wtoz H. SAWYBR.

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

1,079,519. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. SAWYER.

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

1 ,079,5 1 9, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Z\R g ZZ Z0 q Vi f/nmeo '2? /4 W W E] wnto-z COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPN CO-JI'ASNINIITON. u. c.

HARRY SAWYER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

FREIGHT-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed June 24, 1912. Serial No. 705,421.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, county of Muskegon, State of Michigan, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Freight-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling freight.

The object of the invention is to provide a freight handling apparatus which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation, and which is particularly designed for use in handling freight from a lower to a higher elevation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a freight handling apparatus of the nature referred to wherein is employed a crane structure preferably, though not necessarily, in which the crane is carried upon an elevated support as, for instance, the roof or a low roof portion of a building. wharf shed, or the like, where it is elevated out of position where it might interfere with the proper handling of the freight, and with which a boom is employed the outer end of which, when in position for use, is designed to extend out over a deck, boat, lighter or the like, lying alongside the dock or pier upon which the crane is mounted. In an apparatus of this general nature it is desirable to employ a monorail track system along which operate telphers or trolleys carrying freight hoisting and transporting devices. In the use of apparatus of this nature it frequently occurs that hatches on the boat or lighter and compartments in the building, pier shed Or the like, are situated in such relation to each other that it is difficult to bring the boom, and its supporting crane into proper or convenient relation with reference to the desired hatchways and compartment and still have the monorail track system in proper register.

It is therefore among the special purposes of my invention to provide an apparatus of the character referred to in which a switch track system is employed for the truck or trolley which carries or transports the freight, and wherein a monorail track sys tem is arranged so that the crane structure may be accurately located with reference to the particular hatch over which the boom is to be employed regardless of the relative location of the monorail track system and still permit the truck or carrier to operate along the monorail track system.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the nature referred to in which provision is made for efficiently withdrawing the operating boom along which the telpher or freight handling trolley or carrier operates, that is, withdrawing the same from obstructing relation to rigging, smoke-stacks or other obstructions that might be encountered when the crane structure is shifted so as to handle freight to or from different parts or hatches of the boat or lighter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the nature referred to in connection with suitable tracking systems whereby the freight may be handled to or from different floor levels on the dock, pier, pier shed, or other structures employed in connection with the freight handling operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in elevati on showing a crane freight handling construction embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged broken detail View showing the manner of connecting the inner end of the boom to the crane structure, whereby the boom is permitted to be shifted endwise into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in order to withdraw the boom endwise from working position. Fig. 2 is a broken view in top plan of a portion of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in top plan showing one arrangement of switch track employed in connection with the monorail track system of the boom, crane and building, shed or warehouse, in connection with which the freight handling operations are to be carried out; Fig. 4 is a detail view in top plan, showing an arrangement of pivoted section of track rail employed on the boom of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view in end'elevation showing an arrangement for locking or holding the swinging track section of the boom in adjusted position. Fig. 7 is a broken detail view slmwing a slightly modified arrangement for locking or holding the swinging monorail track section of the boom in position. Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1, show-- in g a modified arrangement embodied within the scope of my invention. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the modified arrangement of switch track system shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a portion of a building having various floors, 10, 11, 12, which are preferably elevated above the fioor 13, of the dock, shed, warehouse or the like, said building also having a roof portion 14-, lower than the floors 11, 12 and so forth, of the building. The roof portion 14, is preferably elevated above the floor 13, of the dock, shed or the like. An elevator indicated at 15. and operated by suitable hoisting cables, 16, or otherwise, is employed for the purpose of elevating the freight to be handled from one floor to another of the building. 011 each floor of the building I propose to arrange an overhead suspended monorail track system, indi *ated at 17, along which a tclpher or freight handling trolley, or truck. designed to operate in a well understood manner and in connection with which the elevator 15, operates, said elevator having a monorail track section 19, designed to cooperate with the track system 17, when brought into suitable relation therewith. Located either inside or outside of the building, as may be desired, is a horizontal track system, indicated at 20, see Figs. 3 and 9, having suitable spur connections 21, designed to cooperate with suitable switch track sections carried by the crane structure as will be more fully hereinafter described. Or, if desired, the spurs 21, may cooperate with the track system, 17, at suitable points along the building wall.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the roof portion 1 of the building, is arranged adjacent the building proper, and preferably alongside the same, and at a lower level than the upper floors of the main building, pref erably at or near the level of the first floor 10, and said low roof portion carries suitable track rails along which operate the wheels 23, of the crane structure, indicated, generally, by reference lettr 2%, preferably, though not necessarily, the crane structure 24-, operates along the lower roof portion 11, lengthwise of the latter and in a direction or path parallel to the edge 25, of the dock or pier upon which the building or shed is erected. A boom 9, is carried by the crane structure, and when in operating relation for use extends horizontally outwardly from the edge of the crane structure with its outer end arranged over the boat, lighter, or other vessels, indicated by reference numeral 26, for the purpose of handling freight to and from the same, or to and from the building, pier, shed, warehouse or the like. The outer end of the boom 9, is supported in substan tially horizontal position by means of a rod, 8, which is pivoted to the boom 9, as indicated at 27, and at its other end is pivoted as at 28, to a strut 29, carried by the outer portion of the crane structure 24. If desired the strut 29 may be suitably braced by the brace rod 30, and frame struts or members 32. At their lower ends the frame strut members 32, of the crane structure are provided with horn pieces 31, which are provided with seats or depressions 33, in the upper surfaces thereof, see Fig. 2, and also with seats (31, in the outer end surfaces thereof. Between the seats 83, (31, the horns 31, are formed with the toes (32. Adjacent the lower boundary of each upper seat 33, the horn 3]., is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 63. The upper surface of the member 32, does not lie in a straight line but a sloping or cam surface is formed thereon, as indicated at (34-, Fig. 1, which cam surface is adjacent the lower end of said member the rise of said surface being of increasing extent from the extreme lower end of said member for a short distance longitudinally thereof, and of decreasing extent thereafter toward the other end of said member. The objects and purposes of these various features will now be described in connection with the construction of and operating means for the boom 9.

Attached to each side of the boom 9 at its inner end is a triangular shaped plate (3.3, which is arranged to pivotally swing from the lower inner corners thereof on a shaft (36, mounted in side members of the boom at the extreme inner end of the latter. Also carried by said shaft (36, at each end thereof, outside each plate 65, is a flanged wheel 67, having a comparatively narrow tread. The upper inner corners of the triangle plates 65, are connected by a shaft (38, which has mounted on the outer ends thereof the flanged wheels 69, having con'iparatively broad treads. The other or outer corners of the plates 65 are connected by a shaft 70, upon which are mounted sheaves 71, over which operate cables or other connections 35, which are controlled by the motor :36. When the boom 9 is in position for use, it extends substantially horizontally and the rollers 67, G9, a re respectively seated in the seats 61, 38, with the rollers (39, resting against the lugs This con truction affords an eflicient brace for the boom to lock and hold the same in substantially horizontal position for use with an extended overhang of the free end thereof from the crane structure and which bracing serves to resist any tilting strains imposed by the overhanging weight of the boom or a load carried thereby. In this position of the boom the triangular plates and their connecting shafts occupy the respective positions thereof shown in full lines. Now when it is desired to withdraw the boom from its ope 'ating horizontal position, as for instance when it is desired to shift the crane structure from one point to another along its supporting tracks 22, instead of swinging the boom vertically about a pivotal support to permit it to clear any obstructing rigging, smoke-stack or the like, as is the ordinary way in crane structures, the boom, in accordance with my invention, is withdrawn endwise and moved bodily inwardly. This is accomplished by suitably actuating the motor 36, which operates on the cable connections The first result of this action is to rock the plates (35, about the fulcrum afforded by the bearing of the wheels 9 in their seats 33; this causes the boom to move slightly outwardly in' the direction of its length and sutiiciently to cause the lower wheels (37, to travel upwardly along the lower curved edges of the toes 62, and to oil'- sct the inner end of the boom and its track rail from the adjacent crane structure and switch track sections. lVhen the wheels (57, pass the points or toes 02, of the horns 31, the triangular plates 65, assume an upright position and the wheels (39, (37, then travel along the upper edges of the frame members 39, which thereby constitute tracks therefor. The stop lugs 68, are formed at the outer sides of the horns, and hence, by reason of the narrow treads of wheels 67, the latter are enabled to readily pass by said lugs as the said wheels progress along the upper or track surfaces of the members 32. At the same time the broader treads of the wheels 69, bring up against said lugs, when the boom is in position for use, thereby forn'iing locking stops. It will be seen that when the wheels 69, GT, begin their travel along the tracks 32, and the boom begins its inward longitudinal movement, the tendency is for its outer free end to drop rapidly, to overcome this and to insure a constant elevation of the center of gravi y of the boom as it is withdrawn, a comparatively steep incline of track surface of the member 32 should be provided so as to cause a rapid elevation of the inner end of the boom. As the link or rod 8 which supports the outer end of the boom assumes a more nearly vertical position the tendency of the outer end of the boom to be lowered decreases so that the continued track incline need not be so acute. For this reason, I provide the cam surface (54 in the track members 32, which permits the attainment of the results stated.

it is to be understood that other forms of construction for securing the results above noted might readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still {all within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

The boom 9 is provided with an overhung monorail track indicated by reference numeral 39, along which a telpher or trolley 40, is designed to operate, said telpher or trolley carrying suitable hoisting apparatus 81, for hoisting and transporli the freight to be handled. The telphcr or trolley 40, operates along the monorail track and in conjunction therewith, also :IlUZ'g the track rail system of the building and of the crane structure, the latter to be more fully explained hereinafter.

By the (OllSilUCilOll and arrangement above described freight may be trai ortcd to the boat, or lighter, or other v cls Qt),

or from the same and into or from thx pier, shed or building, and transported or transferred inside the building from one lloor to another without releasing the s: .ne from the hoisting apparatus 8i of the trolley or telpher 40.

If desired iioor 10 of the building may be provided with a hatchway or opening indicatet at through which freight may be raised or lowercd from and to the pier iioor 13, by means of the trolley carrier or lclpher 40 in a manner readily understood.

It may sometimes be impossible or inconvenicnt for the crane structure 94, to be so positioned, with reference to the boat, lighter, freight car, or the like, as to enable the boom 9 to be positioned directly over a particular hatchway of the latter, or similarly it may be dillicult to so position the crane as to enable the boom track 39 for the telpher or trolley i0 to be brought into proper registering relation with reference to the track system of the building at any particular point. To overcome this obiection I propose to proiide tl cra .e structure with a series of switch tracks designed to eoiipcrate with the track spurs 21, the latter coiiperating in a well known manner with the track rai system 20 of the p' 2r, shed or building. A conv ient arrangement may serve as an illustration of the n. Suppose, for instance, that a spur track 21 be c ployed, say. every twenty feet in the (.i-- rection of the length of the crane track l'tlllrl then the crane structure may be provided with a. series of switch trtck sections or portions ii, any one of which may be brought into longitudinal registering relation with reference to a spur section 21. These switch track sections 41, for instance, may be loc: ted say 4, 3 or 5 feet apart. Now by suitabl bringing the monorail track portion 39, of the boom into proper relation and register with one o another switch section 41 of the crane structure, according to which one is in register with the spur section 21, it will be seen that the telphcr or trolley carrier 40 ma be operated along; the boom track monorail onto the proper switch track section i]. and then to the spur track 21, to track t-ff l0ltl 9G, 17 oi the building, as may be desired. This enables me to place the crane structure properl with reference to any particular hatch or treig'ht opening through which or from which the freight is to be transported or handled. Many suitable and specifically different convenient construcarrangements may be employed to accomplish this obje t of bringing individual members oi the switth track sections ll, into 1 "iscred relation with reference to the monoi al 1 iii of the boom. In l to 7 inclusive, an arrangei'nent is shown wherein the boom is provided with pivoted monorail track section 45, which is pivoted as at 46, to or adjacent to, the inner end of the mono "ail traclt portion 39 of the boom. New by suitably shifting the inner end of the pirated track section if), said track section may be brought into suitable registering: relatirm with any desired one or almtlzer of the suit-eh track rections ll of the crane SttllthtllQ. In order to retain the swinging? tracl: section i5. at registering relation with one another of the crane switch track po'tions 14:], any suitable or conrenient arrangement may be employed. in Fi l, 5 and (3,. l have shown a suitable K ement wherein an overhanging neck portion 5%.? is employed and conn'urted to the wringing; tr ck section to. This neck portion 47, overhanr; a transverse bar 48, haw ing suitable pot-hots or seats, indicated at 49, fo itherein corresgmndinig consecutively with the switch traclt sections 41. By suitii" not the track section 45, laterally in 19 11,: on for the overhanging iortion 4? thereof to rest in any losired seat 4 ot' the ransi'rrse ba r the swinging: track section l5. will be held in alinement or registerine' relation with the corresponding crane switch track section ll. in Fig. 7, l hare arrangement trons a n shown 2 noditied v, herein pr: ville a roller 7. carried in up right ortions 530, mounted upon the swingiin; track section 4.3 and designed to operate in or to be received in one or another of the It ol seats 49. of the transxease bar that other speeiiically dillerent arfor accomplishing the same results might re: (lily occur to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as detined in the claims.

In Figs.

8, 9 and 10, l have shown a moditied arrangement wherein the switch track sections 51, of the crane structure are shifted bodily along track ways carried by the crane structure. In this arrangement the boom 9 is not provided with any swinging track section similar to swinging track section 45, of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7. Instead of using a swinging track section, one continuous track section 89 is provided for the boom 9. Atits inner end the track rail section 35) of the boom is designed to be brought into registering relation with reference to one or another of the switch track sections 51, of the crane structure by shittinp the 0 ant: structure track system along the crane structure itself. This may be ac complished by snsi'iending' th switch track system of the crane structure upon a carrier frame indicated at 55, which provided with wheels 56, designed to oper: te along tracks indicated by 57, carried by the 0 one structure. By this arrangement it will be observed that any one or anothe' of the en itch track sections [ll of the rane structure may be ln'onnht into registering relation respectively with the particular spur track 21, and the boom track as may be desired. in other respects as is obvious the structure may remain the same above described with reference to Figs. 1. 2 and Of course it will be understood that the 'trh track sections 51, of the construction siiown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, as well as the switch ill(l f- (,Ci'l()ll ill of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 are of the overhead nn norail type, and along, which the telpher or trolley carrier 40 is designed to operate in the usual manner of monorail transmission.

The operatiim of the readily understoou. lie i 2 to hi; i with ti o use thebf; t is operat ire 0 is s Hi0 the boat .i oi the pier or dock to receive i'ver a load ()i. ii t. no o the 1 dia to be t an,

The

the building of the i hoisting; tl}')112ll'1i'll- Ell. is suitably controlled i: iipui. cl s t r =se the same to i. ii l' a load, K

ot the on to thrtnigh the hatth to any desired floor of the building and a crane, means for supporting a boom from thence along the desired or appropriate floor track sections 17, to the desired point. If it shou d happen that the boom track when placed over the hatch, is not in line with a track spur, 21, then, by suitably changing or varying the relation of the.

boom track and the switch track system on the crane structure, the desired connection is n ltlQ' and the operation or" handling tire freight is carried on without mtertercnce.

Having now set forth the objects and nu- I sition and iii-cans for raising the inner end ture of my invention, and various constructions embodying the princig'ilcs thereof, what I claim as new and usetnl and of my own invention, and desire to nrc by Letters 1 Patent of the United @tates is 1* 1. In an apparatus for handling freight,

a movable crane having a plurality of switch track sections, a boom having a track rail, said switch track sections extending in the same general direction as the boom track rail, and means to bring the boom track rail said crane in substantially horizontal position for so, and means for elevating the inner end of said boom and shifting the lat ter endwise inwardly to with-draw the same from position for use.

5. in an apparatus for handling freight, a crane having seats, a boom suspenfi its outer end from the crane and having means at its inner end adapted to said seats, whereby when in position for use, aid boom is maintained in substantidl llt'il'lEiOlititl pocd at,

of the boom out of said seats and shifting the same endwir-e to withdraw it from position for use.

6. in an apparatus for handling freight, a crane having a plumlity of switch track sec tions, means for suspending a boom from said crane in substantially horizontal po- I sition for use, said boom having a true rail,

into cooperative relation with any desired switch track section.

2. In an apparatus for handling freight, a movable crane having a plurality of si itch track sections and a boom, said boom having a track rail, the crane switch track sections extending in the same general direction as the boom track rail, said track rail having a movable portion adapted to be brought into registering relation with any one of the switch track sections.

3. In an apparatus for handling freight,

means for causing said boom track rail to register with any one of the switch track sections when said boom is in position for use, and means for shifting said boom end- 'ise inwardly to withdra the same from its position for use.

7. In an apparatus for handling freight, a crane having a track-way, a seat formed in the tracloway at its outer end, an hung boom suspended from the crane, having means at its inner end to be received in said seat when said boom is in position for use, and means connected to the inner end of the boom for releasing said seating means and withdrawing the boom endwiso along said track.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this eighth day of June A. 1)., 1912.

HARRY SAWYER.

lVitnesses T. E. IIAMMOND, FRED M. Bnnomnorn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

